FTP_PN - designed and created from the mind of K5HUM
      Copyright 2008 - All Rights Reserved
               G. Mike Raymond

02/26/07 FTP_PN Maintenance Release Version 2.1.1

FTP_PN EXPLAINED:

This standalone PopNote Extension utility (FTP_PN.EXE) 
facilitates the ability of PopNote to allow the 
exchange and or transfer of files (including binary 
types) between users.  In addition, FTP_PN is designed 
such that if a picture file is sent with either the 
.JPG or .GIF extension, it will automatically open the 
PopNote VIEW utility (if available) at the destination 
site and display the transmitted picture. (read 
"VIEW_HELP.TXT") for additional details - limitations). 
If a WAVE file is uploaded it will be played at the 
destination.



FTP_PN TECHNICAL JARGON:

FTP_PN is my own custom version of the standard FTP 
protocol as outlined in RFC354 
(http://rfc.net/rfc354.html). The primary differences 
being in the use of TCP Port 54540 to send and receive 
files other than the international standard of Port 21. 
In addition, FTP_PN uses it own proprietary handshakes 
to negotiate connections and deliver packet traffic. I 
elected to use port 54540 to overcome the limitation 
that most ISPs impose, wherein they block inbound 
traffic on Port 21 (to prevent non commercial users 
from running servers). NOTE: TCP port 54540 must
have unfettered access through your system as does
PopNote's UDP ports 54538 and 54539.

 

FTP_PN OPERATION GUIDE:

When launched from PopNote, FTP_PN will automatically 
go into RECEIVE mode (and likely trigger your 
firewall). It will be necessary to approve FTP_PN for 
Internet access as both a Client and a Server. If 
FTP_PN is started by an independent shortcut, it will 
run in neutral mode. It will then be necessary to 
either click the "Recv" button (if its your intention 
to receive a file) or click the "Send" button to start 
the upload process. The "Recv" button behaves as an 
"on/off" receive toggle. Before starting to Upload 
please pick the correct destination (remotes) address, 
either as an IP or FQDN. Read the following:

FTP_PN uses the same address file (PopNoteA.CFG) as 
does PopNote. A combobox picklist allows quick 
selection of the remote's IP or FQDN address. If the 
PopNoteA.cfg file is not found a sample file, properly 
formatted, with a usable LOCALHOST address (127.0.0.1) 
will be created.  

For those using FTP_PN independent of PopNote, you will 
need to modify the IP/FQDN address file "PopNoteA.CFG". 
This is a simple standard text (ascii) file, carriage 
return - line feed delimited (such as those created 
with Windows own NOTEPAD.EXE utility). Each line should 
be exactly 30 characters in length with the first 15 
characters composing the IP. Then, the remaining 15 
characters can be any address identifier you choose. A 
FQDN takes up the entire of 30 characters and must end 
with a CRLF pair. If the FQDN is less than 30 
characters it must be padded out to 30 using spaces 
(ascii 32's). Likewise, IP's and ID's that are less 
than 15 charaxters must be padded out to 15.  Place 
this address file in the same folder with FTP_PN.EXE 
and the utility will automatically read and display it 
in FTP_PN's address pick list box. Since each line is 
30 characters, terminated with a CRLF pair, an address 
file with say 4 addresses will be 128 bytes (32x4) in 
size.

FTP_PN uses C:\DOWNLOAD as its default receiving 
folder. This folder is automatically created if it does 
not exist. This download folder destination can be 
dynamically changed during runtime in the download 
folder edit box by either overtyping or clicking the 
"Dpath" button. 

FTP_PN allows file drag and drop operations that 
automatically trigger "sending" the dropped file.  It 
is therefore imperative that the correct destination 
address be chosen beforehand and that the destination 
is made aware a file will be forthcoming.  The 
destination must have or put their copy of FTP_PN in 
receive mode.

In addition to drag and drop, FTP_PN also offers a file 
Browse mode to manually select a file to transmit. 
Browse select is automatically started by clicking the 
Send button. 

FTP_PN can run as a stand alone file transfer client 
server. FTP_PN can be launched with a standard Windows 
Shortcut and can also accept a command tail parameter 
of "/run" to start running in listening (or ready to 
receive) mode. When launched from PopNote, FTP_PN will 
automatically be started in receive or listening mode.



TESTING FTP_PN LOCALLY:

To locally test FTP_PN on your machine, 1) have the 
local host address (127.0.0.1) showing in the address 
window. 2) run two copies of FTP_PN.  3) Click the 
"Recv" button on one copy. 4) Set your firewall to 
approve FTP_PN as a client (passing TCP port 54540) for 
incoming TCP/IP traffic. 5) Click the "Send" button on 
the second copy of FTP_PN, select a file to send to 
C:\DOWNLOAD from the file browser window and click 
"Ok".  Again your firewall may require permission for 
FTP_PN to act as a Server. If you selected a picture 
file, (either .JPG or .GIF), and have the companion 
VIEW.EXE utility in the same folder with FTP_PN, the 
picture will display after a successful transfer. If a 
WAVE file is uploaded it will be played at the 
destination.

The most recent releases of FTP_PN (1.17 and later) 
have:

A BPS counter.  Thats BYTES per second. If you want 
Bits per Second, just multiply the reading by 
approximately 10. This is a dynamic averaging of 
throughput. In addition, a time elapse counter will 
tick off the seconds since the transfer began.

To avoid cockpit errors, "gray out" of various buttons, 
windows etc will occur depending on what mode you are 
using at the moment.

Once a connection with a remote is established in Send 
mode, you can continue to send additional files with 
the completion of each transfer. If you send a file 
that already exist in the destinations default 
receiving folder, the new upload will truncate or 
overwrite the original file.



BUG REPORTS:

Every effort is made to insure each release of a 
PopNote Extension has passed muster with my proof of 
performance testing. However, as the complexity of 
single author development projects increase, it is 
practically impossible to guaranteed that some bugs 
will not slip through to a beta or public release. In 
that regard it is my pledge to make bug fixes and or 
maintenance releases available as soon as possible. 
However, in the "for whatever its worth" department, 
every release of my programs are compiled and tested 
for proof of performance on "my" 24/7 server. Any 
information relative to new releases will be published 
in pnbnbug.txt which is available on the web 24/7 vi
"Whats New" in the PopNotes Help Menu.

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